Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
BUSINESSMAN Blessed “JB” Charakupa, who owns Club Zone nightclub in Highfield, was yesterday convicted of assault — after a vicious gang attack on two relatives outside another city nightclub — and was remanded in custody to today for mitigation and sentence.
Charakupa was convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Gamuchirai Gore.
The gang attack, which was orchestrated by Charakupa and his gang, left a student with a broken tooth while his relative was injured.
The relatives had been celebrating a birthday party that night last year when violence broke out.
Magistrate Gore said the State managed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“It’s common that an altercation occurred when the parties were at Habhana Lounge.
“The court approached the evidence with caution given that alcohol had been consumed on the night in question.
“While the witnesses were truthful and honest, the court was cognisant of the fact that mistaken identity was possible in this case and considered the lighting, whether or not they knew him prior, how they could have identified him?
“Their injuries or broken teeth and swollen mouth showed that their assailant could have been of close range hence he was properly identified as they frequented his bar from time to time there was no mistaken identity.
“From the evidence the court is satisfied that the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
The State claimed that on January 27, the two complainants —Obert Masvotore and Tanaka Tamayi— were at a party at the club with their friends and family.
They saw a certain man assaulting Tanaka’s brother, Ronald.
Tanaka managed to convince his brother to leave the scene and Ronald drove off.
As Tanaka was about to leave for him, Charakupa blocked his vehicle and charged towards him.
He opened the door where Tanaka was sitting.He allegedly hit Tanaka on the mouth with a fist while his accomplices opened the passenger door and hit Tanaka on the head.
Masvotore tried to stop the fight and was also brutally assaulted.
Masvotore sustained injuries on his ribs, a cut on the lip and a swollen thumb.
Tanaka’s father, Allison Tamayi, intervened and warned Charakupa and his goons not to assault his child in front of him and they stopped.
Tanaka sustained a cut on the lip and two of his teeth were broken in the scuffle.
Mathew Masinge